Dorsai - Full Circle

Kelly nodded for her to continue, and she did by saying "Until last week, when we met Candice, none of us was really paying all that much attention to what you've been telling us. I mean, sure, we were listening and everything, but we weren't always paying attention – at least, not the way that we know we should have."

Claire spoke up, adding "When we had the, uh, anatomy lessens and stuff like that – yeah, we were doing what we should have. But when you were talking to us about other stuff, like being honest with ourselves, and things like that, we weren't. It was when we were listening to Candice last week that we all realized that you were trying to teach us the same things that you taught her. She's so smart and strong inside and all that – and we knew from listening to her that she got that way because of you. And we realized that unless we started really paying attention, like she did, that we probably weren't going to be anything like her."

Next was Sheri, who said "We all talked about it, and we realize that even though you've be honest and everything with us, we haven't been that way with you – at least, not the way you have. So we decided that the first thing we did tonight, we had to be as honest with you as you have with us; and tell you that we haven't been honest with ourselves because we haven't been doing what we knew we should have been."

Evelyn finished it up for them by saying "What we have to tell you is that we're sorry. We know we've let you down, and all of us feel really bad about it; and we want to ask you if you would still be willing to teach us, even though we've been slacking off the way we have. We know its a lot to ask, and that after the way we've been there really isn't any reason you should agree – but we have learned our lesson, and we really do want to learn from you."

Kelly and I had already talked a little about the absence of some topics from their conversations with us. We shared a look before she told them "Both of us noticed that even though you were asking us questions and talking to us, you weren't saying anything to us about the kinds of things that we know you talk to each other. Remember what I – and the others – have all told you that we talked to Dan about everything – not just about dating, and why guys do what they do, but about our bodies and what we were feeling, too. You've had your anatomy lesson, and you've learned about a guy's stuff, too. Don't you think that we didn't notice when after all that, you didn't seem to have any more questions, or anything else to say?"

Hearing that we'd already noticed the very things that they thought they were confessing to hit them pretty hard – all five of them looked sheepish, ashamed, and fearful by turns. I cleared my throat to get their attention, and I could see that all five were listening closely, even if they couldn't look me in the eye as I told them "What you're finding out – in the same way most people do, which is to say the hard way – is that no matter how clever and smart you are, there's a pretty darn good chance that there's still somebody that knows more than you."

All of them looked pretty miserable as I went on "The difference is that you made that mistake with Kelly and me, and we care enough about you to not hold it against you. In fact, because you've learned it the way you have – after you had the courage and honesty to admit what you had been doing – we know that its pretty safe bet that you'll do an even better job of actually listening to us now."

It took a couple of seconds for the last part of that to sink in; and even then, Crissy looked up at me and and asked "You… you mean you're still going to let us come over, even after what we did?"

I gave her a smile and answered "Yes, that's what I mean."

On hearing that, the five of them started to quietly cry, which prompted Kelly to have to get up and go over and comfort and reassure them that everything really was okay. It was while she was doing that that I saw her and Bonita get into a whispered discussion before I heard Kelly softly tell her "No, go on, its okay. Really."

After giving Kelly a somewhat doubtful look, Bonita got up and came over to me and said "Dan, I'm really sorry about the way I've acted. I'd really feel better if… if I could hug you."

Of all of them, Bonita had always been the one that had been the most physically 'shy' with me, so when she asked me that, I didn't hesitate to answer "Of course you can.". What surprised me, though, was rather than waiting for me to get up, she quickly moved to sit on my lap before wrapping her arms around me and hugging me fiercely as she whispered "I'm sorry, Dan. You and Kelly have been so nice, and I just took it without thinking about how much you were giving me."

I put my arms around her and hugged her back; that seemed to be the trigger for her to start quietly crying on my shoulder, so I softly stroked her back as I murmured words of comfort and reassurance to her until she'd gotten herself back together. When she sat up again, she looked into my eyes for a few moments, then leaned forward again – to give me a kiss on the cheek before scrambling off my lap and rejoining the others.

Once Bonita had done it, there was nothing to do but for the rest of them to follow her example. Over the next few minutes, each of them came over to sit on my lap for a hug and a whispered apology, accompanied by a tear or ten. For the rest of them, I didn't hesitate to hug them in return, and caress them as I had Bonita.

When they were all settled down again, Kelly went back to where she had been sitting – and after a few false starts, the five of them finally started talking about the things that were really on their minds.

I had to call Bonita's father to let him know that things were going to run longer than usual, once the girls got started actually talking to us. He thanked me, and I told him that I'd let him know when they were ready to leave. As it turned out, it was a good thing I did – it was over five hours before we decided that it was time to call it a night.

The girls didn't get a chance to come over for another visit until the first Saturday after school let out. When they came in, the first thing they did was to apologize for staying as long as they had the time before. Kelly and I assured them that it wasn't a problem; after a little prodding, they finally admitted that each set of parents had a little perturbed by it – only because they'd been worried that the girls had stayed longer than Kelly and I were willing to have them. Kelly's solution to that was to ask the girls if they wanted to have a sleep over, so they could talk pretty much for as long as they wanted. All of them thought it was a great idea, of course – until Evelyn pointed out that their folks would likely think it was the girls idea and shut the whole idea down. Kelly simply told them "Pooh. I'll call them, and tell them we're inviting you". They weren't sure it would work, but Kelly just smiled at them. When she wanted to, Kelly could be almost as stubborn and persistent as I could.

With that out of the way, we all headed for the den and another session of the girls talking from their hearts – as well as any other body parts that spoke to them. When it was time for them to go, they and Kelly worked out just when the sleep over would be: starting the second Friday from then, about 6:00, and lasting until sometime Sunday; most likely early Sunday afternoon.

The following week, Kelly called all of their parents and made the invitation; Claire's father and Evelyn's mother were fairly adamant about denying their permission until Kelly convinced them to call me for confirmation that it really had been Kelly's idea, and that the girls really were welcome. It didn't take much talking for me to settle their minds on both counts.